SOUTH ASIAN PULSE RADIO HEADLINES OCTOBER 27TH 2016

Belgium has agreed to back Canada-EU Trade deal. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said his government and the holdout region of Wallonia have struck a deal that earlier held a veto over the country’s ability to back Ceta. The deal could not be brokered as EU needed unanimity among members.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced nine new non-partisan senators today but 21 seats are still vacant. The new members have five women and four men who were selected out of the 2,700 applications received. Others names will be announced soon also. Those who have been named include Yuen Pau Woo, former president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Patricia Bovey, former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Marilou McPhedran, co-leader of the Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Women on the Constitution, René Cormier, New Brunswick francophone René Cormier, president of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, Nancy Hartling, founder of the non-profit Support to Single Parents Inc. and founder of St. James Court Inc., Winnipeg psychiatrist Harvey Chochinov, Wanda Thomas Bernard, the first African-Canadian to hold a tenure-track position at Dalhousie University, Daniel Christmas, senior adviser for the Mi’kmaw First Nation of Membertou, N.S. and Diane Griffin, former provincial deputy minister of environmental resources.

Distracted walking – majority support ban, police can give you ticket

Michelle Obama is openly campaigning for Hillary Clinton in North Carolina. Though earlier she has been talking in favour of Hillary and against Trump but this is the first time Michelle will be canvassing for Hillary in public.

Islamabad High Court has asked authorities to ensure smooth running of daily business in Islamabad on November 2 so that the common man does not face any problems. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been applied for two months in Islamabad under which no sit-in can be held in the capital.

Around 60 PTI workers have been arrested and police resorted to baton charge.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Vice-Chairman of PTI has strongly condemned the baton charge and torture by police on peaceful members of the party that also included women. Qureshi slammed the government saying it has revealed its true face and that the act is against democracy.

PTI chief Imran Khan has said Islamabad protest will be held at any cost on November 2

Responding to the government directive against a sit-in in Islamabad, Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid has said he will tear Section 144 into 144 pieces.

Pakistani diplomat Mehmoud Akhtar has been arrested on alleged espionage charges. Pakistani High Commissioner in India, Abdul Basit has condemned these allegations saying Akhtar has been wrongly implicated. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of Indian External Affairs Ministry has said the diplomat will be deported to Islamabad.

British Prime Minister Theresa May who will visit India next month has said Kashmir issue is not on agenda of her talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it is India and Pakistan’s internal matter.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has praised British-Indians in Diwali message saying they have played an important role in society.

Navjot Singh Sidhu along with other Awaz-e-Punjab leaders Pargat Singh and Bains brothers late last night met with senior AAP leaders Durgesh Pathak and Sanjay Singh even as talks of an alliance between the former’s party and the Congress are being reported. Apparently he has been offered the deputy chief minister post as Sidhu is still weighing his options before entering into any alliance with another political party. But AAP has asked Pargat Singh and Bains brothers to help them during the campaign.

Assembly polls in Punjab are likely to be held in January-February next year.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has said it does not matter whether Navjot Singh Sidhu joins the Congress or the Aam Aadmi Party because outcome in both cases will be zero. Badal said both AAP and Congress are zero and are of no relevance. She said AAP has zero performance in Delhi and Congress is zero at the national level so Sidhu will also be zero whoever he joins.

AAP leader Kejriwal has hailed SC ruling on staff wages and wishes Punjab to implement it also. He also said Congress must also talk about this issue.